Hugo Conelis left the East Coast capital in disappointment.

Before leaving, he met Hironimus at the Dutch Embassy in the East Coast. This man has lived on the East Coast for many years. Although he often goes out of the Dutch expatriates circle, his lifestyle and behavioral patterns are still inevitably engraved with many marks on the East Coast. For example, he now likes to listen to East Coast opera, likes to hunt on the grassland, likes to eat at the Penglai Restaurant in Qingdao, etc. In addition, there are some ways to think about problems, angles of viewing things, etc. The Dutch flavor on Ambassador Hironimus has become increasingly weak, so that even a naughty girl like Hugo can be seen.

Ambassador Hieronimus talked with Hugo for a long time. He said that he had received local diplomatic orders and would work hard to negotiate with the senior management of the East Coast government in the next period of time to see if the East Coast government can change the hearts of the East Coast government and let them join the Netherlands. Of course, he also made it clear that the French ambassador is now walking around every few days. The special geographical location of the East Coast coast makes everyone dare not ignore the fact that the Cape Town Freeport is open to whom and not to whom. It is already very serious, so the pressure of competition is particularly high, and many things may not be possible.

Hugo Conelis expressed his understanding of this. As one of the best descendants of the famous business family in Zeeland, he naturally had some understanding of the current continental situation. France is really the Netherlands. For example, in the previous series of actions to erode border territories, this country actually agreed to a considerable tariff rate in order to stabilize the United Provinces; for example, after improving relations with the East Coast, they reduced the tariff rate for dozens of commodities in one go, and in the end, they gave the East Coast, an export-trading power with the average tariff level of other countries.

To be honest, the Dutch could not do these trade concessions, let alone their style. These businessmen don’t know how they have a brain, and they regard small money more important than anything else. The French licked them as soon as they offered some interests. Even if Prince Orange had always been dissatisfied with the French, they could not violate the desires of most domestic businessmen. To be joking, the Dutch would rather not expand their territory than protect the continuation of commercial interests, which was about this kind of unyielding nature.

Compared with them, although the French also loved money, they seemed to love land more. In particular, their king Louis XIV had been committed to two things for many years, namely spreading their reputation and expanding the country's territory. Look at his achievements after his personal expedition. He occupied a large area of ​​land in the South Netherlands in the northeast, and also annexed Luxembourg and part of German territory; in the east annexed Francheconte, Alsace and Lorraine, and the Free City of Strasbourg; in the southeast annexed some small castles and towns on the junction of Italy; in the south, he annexed many tracts of land including Lucirong, completely driving the power of the Spanish Kingdom to the south of the Pyrenees, making this mountain a natural dividing line between the two countries.

In short, the large land area of ​​France's later hexagonal hexagons (compared to other Central and Western European countries) laid the foundation at this time. The country's persistence in land was still quite terrible, which caused unanimous panic among the surrounding countries and tried every means to curb them. But no matter what, the French finally successfully digested most of the land they had eaten and turned into their core land. From this point of view, the Dutch, who valued money and interests, fell into a inferior position, because their land area and population were not as good as France, were destined to be unable to become a big country after the coming of the industrial age.

After leaving Dongfang County, Hugo Conelis took a boat to the coast of eastern Brazil to inspect the places and see where to invest in the construction of plantations. Speaking of which, after so much trouble, he finally had time to do his job. After seeing others making a lot of money, the West India Company was really unable to hold back, so it was inevitable that it would be possible to build a new plantation on the east coast.

Just as Hugo Conelis was conducting a careful investigation on the coast of Brazil, Ma Wenqiang, Chairman of the East Coast Executive Committee, also found Major General Li Zemin, the chief of staff of the military headquarters who had just inspected the "bandit suppression" work of the Nanci, and discussed with him the current situation in the continental situation and how the East Coast people should fish in this muddy water.

"The situation? Actually, there is nothing to say. The continent must be fought. There is no need to doubt this." Major General Li Zemin, wearing a military uniform, lit a cigarette and said with a serious face: "I happened to have just read an intelligence about France. It was written by an intelligence official from the military police headquarters, which has always been paying attention to the military forces of European countries. It mentioned the French Dragoon movement, which harmed many Protestants and had the risk of religious wars. If there was any interference from external forces."

The so-called Dragoon movement is actually just the persecution and oppression of the Protestants by French soldiers. According to French tradition, the army can live in the homes of ordinary people, and all the food is provided by the people. Louis XIV's favorite minister Loi suggested to him that if a Huguenot declared a conversion to Catholicism, his family would be exempted from the suffering of garrison. At the same time, with the acquiescence of the upper class, the middle and lower class officers instigated the soldiers who lived in the Huguenots' homes to cause trouble. They began to do whatever they wanted, and then developed into adultery and looting, and the Huguenots suffered a lot.

When the incident was reflected to Louis XIV, he only lightly scolded the generals of the two most over-the-top Dragoon troops, and did not even remove their posts. What punishment is this? As a result, more and more military generals joined this political speculation activity, and the Huguenots were annoyed by the disaster. Many people were forced to pretend to announce their conversion. Of course, there were also many Huguenots who chose to cross the border to flee to other countries.

Seeing this situation, Louis XIV realized that the French Kingdom is almost all Catholic (there are only 1.5 million Huguenots in the population of more than 20 million), which is very different from the situation where Protestants traveled everywhere in 1598, so there is no need to be tolerant of those Protestants. Therefore, a few months ago, he openly announced the abolition of the Nantes Decree, and the Huguenots in France were immediately in a catastrophe.

The above news has just been spread to the east coast. Conelis and other Dutch people may not know it. Of course, Ma Wenqiang didn't know it. After listening to Li Zemin's retelling, he suddenly realized that the French were really crazy. What are the benefits of messing up their own country like this? You should know that although the number of Huguenots is small, many of them are professions such as merchants, craftsmen, artists, etc., and the social wealth and influence they have mastered cannot be underestimated. Back then, Colbert was worried that excessive persecution of Huguenots may cause a sharp decline in France's foreign trade income, because these people are very high in the trade and commercial system.

So, these people actually belong to the elite class of France. What is the difference between persecuting them and the Spanish expelling the Moors several times back then? Although France has a great family and a great cause, it cannot withstand such repeated tossing. If these Huguenots slipped to the Union Province or France, the French would be really troublesome.

"So, the war between France and the Netherlands is inevitable?" Ma Wenqiang also lit a cigarette and said in a muffled voice.

"The possibility is more than 90%. "Li Ze*min shook his head and said, "As long as the French do not stop their own expansion, I think this war will not stop. The Dutch government actually has a clear understanding of this. You see, they have now gone to the New World in the South to win over people. Doesn't this mean their determination?"

"The Dutch's plan was wrong. If we really join their camp, we will make the French East India Company unable to use Cape Town freely, and the business in the Far East will be mostly ruined. Is this a great harm to the French? No, don't tease, the French will not frown. Their main source of wealth is the vast farmland suitable for farming, and the country's population of more than 20 million, which is not overseas trade at all." Marvin Qiang vomited a circle and said worriedly.

"So, Chairman Ma, my suggestion is that our country wait and see for the time being and not rush to join either side. When the situation becomes a little clearer, then make a decision depending on the situation." Li Ze*min said. In fact, his words were actually the tone of a scheming politician, rather than a military general who likes to fight. Of course, the Chief of Staff of the Military Department is indeed not a pure soldier, and the attributes of politicians are indeed more or less.

"Don't rush to show that the attitude is correct." After thinking for a while, Ma Wenqiang nodded slightly and said, "Now the trade volume between the Kingdom of France and us is constantly rising. This country with the second largest population in the continent is already an important customer of East Coast goods. I think everyone is very clear about the benefits in this. It's ridiculous that the Dutch people don't give any substantial benefits, and just want us to be cannon fodder for them. It's ridiculous to think about it. Aren't they afraid that we will form an alliance with the French directly? That would be an indescribable disaster for their overseas trade. The East India Company of France and the East India Company of the United Provinces are not the same at all. The French can afford to lose, but the Dutch cannot do it!"
Chapter completed!